West Oxfordshire

West Oxfordshire's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of West Oxfordshire increased by 9.6%, from just over 95,600 to 105,000.

The addition of just over 9,100 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Oxfordshire was home to, on average, 1 person per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's second-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Oxfordshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Oxfordshire increased by three years, from 39 to 42 years.

This affluent rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 3,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 12% of people in West Oxfordshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in West Oxfordshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in West Oxfordshire, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In West Oxfordshire, the proportion of single people increased from 25% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in West Oxfordshire fell from 58% to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.7% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More homes without children

West Oxfordshire saw the South East's largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62%) households in West Oxfordshire had no children, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30% to 29%.

Across the region, Eastleigh saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households without children (from 59% in 2001 to 60% in 2011).

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in West Oxfordshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 26% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 26% in 2001

The number of people in West Oxfordshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 14,000 in 2001 to just over 27,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 26% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in West Oxfordshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 74,000 in 2001 to about 69,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 6,200 to just over 7,500 (from 6.5% to 7.2%).

Just under 440 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 220 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in West Oxfordshire increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Oxfordshire

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.1% to 2.7% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of West Oxfordshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in West Oxfordshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 97% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 97% in 2001

The number of people in West Oxfordshire from the White ethnic groups increased from about 94,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in West Oxfordshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 510 in 2001 to about 1,400 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 630 to just under 1,300 (from 0.7% to 1.2%).

About 440 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 210 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in West Oxfordshire decreased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in West Oxfordshire, but at a slower rate than across England.

In West Oxfordshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in West Oxfordshire fell from 13% to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 73% to 70%.

Private renting in West Oxfordshire increased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Oxfordshire, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.2% to 3.5% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 74% in 2001. The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Oxfordshire decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Oxfordshire, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Oxfordshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 12% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of households in West Oxfordshire, which comprised one person, increased from 25% to 26% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households had an unmarried couple, compared with 8.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Oxfordshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 45% to 40%.

The proportion of one-person households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 30%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that were self-employed remained close to 12% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 60%, while the percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that were unemployed increased from 1.5% to 2.3%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 9.5% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of West Oxfordshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in West Oxfordshire remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and West Oxfordshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links